Afon Cwm-Mynach

Nearby Rivers: Barmouth Area

Map:	124 Dolgellau & Surrounding Area
Grade:	V+
Length:	2.5 km
Access:	A496 Llanelltyd to Barmouth road
Notes:	two tree portages; one or two falls in lower gorge that most will wish to portage
Quality:

The Cwm-Mynach is an audacious little river rising from the eastern flanks of Diffwys. It is difficult to get the right water level for both stretches. The upper needs much water to blot out some sizeable boulders whilst the lower gorge becomes very frightening at these conditions - at least for me. Piers Nesbitt tells a horror story of being firmly held under water, by one of the more vicious stoppers in the lower gorge at high water.

Garth Gell bridge to Pen y Bryn

2.5 km class V+; possible portages

Just before crossing the river on the A496 turn off upstream on a steep little road, and drive up for about two kilometres until it is possible to put on at a small bridge GR684205. The river is easy at first as it rushes down a beautiful gorge, with one or two trees that needed portaging. After about 600 metres things hot up, with some class V boulder rapids that are steep and hard.

Below here there is a short respite before the second and more gnarly gorge is entered. This is just below the old gold workings. Here the river cascades incredibly steeply through a series of increasingly large narrow drops. At high water some of the lines get tricky, whilst some of the stoppers become extremely sticky. Inspection and discretion are the name of the game - or at least were when we paddled. One or two of these drops are prudently portaged. Suddenly, as you pass a works yard GR689192 on the left it is all over - until another day.